I got this “thing” at a tiny thrift store months ago because of its mysterious existence, and I still don’t know what it’s used for.

Recently I got some nichi-nichi-so, and at long last I think I’ve found a purpose of the thing–in my own sort of way, though.

Nichi-nichi-so or a little Russian-sounding nichi-nichi-ka is one of few summer flowers.
Its English name is periwinkle and the flowers come in a variety of colors, blooming till autumn, but alack, they open and go in a day, making the fallen sets of five petals a sorry sight.
So I took off the lid of the mystery vessel, filled it with water and put some of the fallen flowers in it.

It’s been three days now and they look happy.
I don’t know what I learned from all this, but it made me very happy!
Still it would make me even happier if you could let me know what the vessel is for.